Midtown Lunch

I’m pretty excited for this week’s Profiled Midtown Lunch’er. A personal hero of mine, Robert Sietsema is not just a food writer for the Village Voice, his “Counter Culture” column is a champion of the type of eats we struggle to find every day here in Midtown for lunch. He’s also the curator of the Village Voice’s Choice Eats, a huge restaurant tasting event happening a week from tonight (March 11th) at the Puck Building featuring food from 35 places from all over New York City, hand picked by Robert himself (including our very own Margon). Advance tickets are all sold out, but they will be selling a limited number of $35 tickets at the door starting at 5:30pm on Tuesday (March 11th). Plus, I have a pair a tickets to give away to one lucky Midtown Lunch’er, after Robert gives his picks for lunching in Midtown…

Name: Robert Sietsema

Occupation: Food Snob

Where do you Work?: The Village Voice

Favorite Kind of Food:West African (especially lamb mafe! which has a peanut sauce), Mexican (regional cooking from Oaxaca and Guerrero), Italian (Umbrian, Tuscan, and Calabrian), and Italian-American (yay, meat ball hero!)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Venezuelan, way too bland and boring, too much mayo!

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Margon(46th btw. 6+7th) for their pernil and chicken fricassee. Katsuhama (47th btw. Mad+5th) for their splendid pork cutlets incorporated into katsudon. And Sapporo(49th btw. 6+7th), especially for their cold noodle dish in the hot summer months.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Ressie Mae’s on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th. (May she rest in peace -zach)

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Port of Spain, Trinidad — rotis & doubles!

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where is the best meat ball parmesan hero in midtown?

My favorite Meatball Sub, plus how you can win tix to Choice Eats, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Today I’m excited to have Jennifer 8. Lee, journalist and author of “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles”,  my new favorite book for anybody who loves Chinese food (Americanized and/or “authentic”).  It answers every question I’ve ever had about my favorite kind of food, like… What the hell is Chow Mein?  Where did fortune cookies come from? (Spoiler: They’re actually Japanese)  Who is General Tso? What is the best Chinese food restaurant in the World?  And of course… Why do Jews love Chinese food so much???  It’s an amazingly interesting book about how food from China has evolved over the years, most specifically into what people consider “Chinese” food here in the United States.  The book comes out in a week, but we have a few copies to give away today, after Jenny gives her Midtown Lunch’ing recommendations…

 Name: Jenny

Age: 31

Occupation: Journalist, blogger, and Author of the new book “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles“)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: The New York Times

Favorite Kind of Food:Anything ethnic, more specifically Asian ethnic. So Vietnamese pho and banh mi sandwiches, dumplings with thick skin (no gyoza please), creative sushi rolls (the bigger the better), Korean cold noodles(spicy and non), Malaysian roti canai, anything the Indians do with cauliflower.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything French and creamy. Blah.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I love Koreatown, so Woorijip (32nd btw. B’way+5th) which is a late night Korean deli that has a buffet and take away meal packages. I love their bulgolgi, their kim bop (beef and tuna good, but I still find the American cheese ones a bit weird), their pajun pancakes, the japchae noodles, and their little pickled vegetables of all sorts: eggplant, radish, and mountain root vegetable (whatever that is). I will grab $50 worth of boxed lunches as a time and bring them home to consume. Also Todai on 32nd btw. Mad+5th. I like their extensive super buffet because they have a good selection of vegetable-based dishes, so very vegetarian and low carb friendly even if you are not into their sushi.  Cafe Zaiya on 41st between Madison and 5th for its Japanese fast food for Japanese expats. I love their rice/nori triangles. And interesting interpretation of “mini pizzas.” They have curry rices and odd sandwiches and pastries. Thank god, there is also an in-store Beard Papa for cream puffs (love green tea ones!) I love the fact you can buy sweet Japanese milk tea in bottles there. During summers you can get a great cool noodle dish whose name now escapes me.  And I like Ustav(46th/47th btw. 6+7th) for nice Indian food. It’s a bit pricier for their lunch buffet compared to the standard $9.99 fare, but it has a beautiful upscale environment to go with it. So it’s nicer for those times when you want a slower paced meal. Of course, I also like grabbing any one of those lamb/chicken meals from the Halal carts that are scattered around Midtown and going back to my desk.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: I like Havana Central on 46th between 6th and 7th, for good, quick, reasonably priced Cuban in a colorful spacious bright restaurant. Turkey cuban sandwich (are there Turkeys in Cuba?), and ropa vieja. I would love to like their chocolate empanadas, but the crust was too hard. Avoid nights if you like conversation. They like to play their music LOUD.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Dubai… Dubai is a city of 85 expats, so there is no native palate to cater to. The ethnic restaurants therefore are generally for the immigrants/temp workers/expats from that region. So you can see the difference between Syrian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi cuisines instead of the”Middle Eastern” we see here. And you can get not just Indian cuisine,but Goan Indian cuisine! It has great street food in many respects but also glistening five star restaurants. One of the top Chinese restaurants in the world, Zheng He, a contemporary take on traditional Chinese cuisine is there. It is a dynamic food culture.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? What’s your favorite Chinese food dish in Midtown?  (Americanized Chinese or Chinese Chinese)

To enter to win the book, just post your favorite Chinese food dish (and Midtown location) in the comments… and don’t be afraid to go with orange chicken!  One of the themes of the book I found so interesting is how it tackles the idea of “authenticity”.  All cuisine has been affected by outside influences, even things that we may consider “authentic” by today’s standards.  So hundreds of years from now, Americanized Chinese food may be looked upon with the same reverence that we look at Dim Sum.

My favorite, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown.  Today it’s Dan, a nurse (what the hell is a Pharmaceutical Triage Associate???) who loves nose cups, and was hoping to meet his future wife in Bryant Park two weeks ago.

Name: Dan

Age: 25

Occupation: Pharmaceutical Triage Associate

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 42nd & 3rd

Favorite Kind of Food: Anything. Cheese. Literally, anything.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I’m not sure if I understand that combination of words.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I’ve got a regular regimen of of eating at Papano Taqueria (tortas=amazing), Oms/b, Grand Central Market, the trifecta of Japanese restaurants on 41st between Madison and 5th, and, when it’s warm, walking over to KwikMeal.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: I often meet people at any of the places above, especially if we can eat in Bryant Park on a nice day or if Fashion Week’s in town, so that I might meet my future wife.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Milant Goumet Deli, which is a pretty great straight up soup and sandwich combo. Then there’s both Sophie’s Cuban and the “Famous” Chicken Place which, like Zach, remind me of my South Floridian roots.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Probably down by Washington Square Park, with access to NYU area food (Mamoun’s PressToast) then a quick jaunt to the East Village (S’Mac, Pomme Frites, and various ramen joints) or the West Village (Corner Bistro, Gray’s Papaya). Or, frankly, any place by a Gray’s Papaya.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Anyone know where I can find some cheap, good mac & cheese in east midtown? A much happier, heavier me will thank you.

Ah yes… the age old Mac & Cheese question.  On the West side, I’ve mentioned the mac & cheese at the by the pound buffet at Cafe Duke, which is not bad.  There’s also the version at Piece of Chicken, which is not only out of bounds to far west but is also now $3 for a pretty small portion.  A couple of co-workers of mine ordered delivery from Supermac, although they said it was pretty expensive for the amount of food you get.  That place is located on 7th Ave. btw. 29+30th, but they will deliver pretty far depending on how much you order.

Anybody have a mac n cheese recommendation for the west east side (or west side for that matter)?  Post it as a comment below.  And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, or you’d like to nominate somebody in your office, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Recently I started taking nominations from friends and co-workers, which prompted this email:

I would like to nominate my friend Raechy to be a profiled luncher. Unlike me, she actually works in Midtown proper, and is a big meat enthusiast (she’d already been to the International Meat Buffet when I sent her the ML link), but she’s still willing to roll veggie with me and go to places like Zen Burger. Also she’s uber cute and really funny so I’m sure the rest of your loyal disciples would be psyched to see her and read what she has to say.

Thanks for the email Sarah. You had me at buffet… meet Raechy, a healthcare analyst who loves meat buffets and is a ramen connoisseur.

Name: Raechy

Age: 27

Occupation: Healthcare Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Reuters, in the hell that is commonly referred to as Times Square

Favorite Kind of Food: Must there only be one? Tacos/eel sushi/dumplings.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Dessert

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The Tonkatsu ramen at Men Kui Tei on 56th btw. 5+6th (I consider myself a very devoted ramen connoisseur). Also, I like the unlimited toppings salad and drink for 6 bucks at the unnamed deli on 41st btw. B’way+6th.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Haru on 43rd & 7th (yuck). Also Bela Vita pizza on 43rd & 7th is amazing and affordable.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: The chicken and rice cart on 43rd and 6th.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Anywhere in the world? Then Barcelona… I have a weakness for aioli. In NYC it would be the east village/LES, mainly for Fried Dumplings.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Haru an expensive Japanese chain owned by Benihana? And that’s your “goto” lunch? I need a job at Reuters!

Also- I have to say, I sort of respect your listing of dessert as least favorite kind of food. I love myself some sweets (are there any fat people that don’t?), but if given the choice between dessert, and an extra appetizer, or a 5th plate at the all you can eat buffet, chances are it’s the dessert that’s going to lose out. The whole “saving room” for dessert thing is not part of my eating vocabulary. If there’s room in there for dessert, I’ll have it. If not- tough nuggies for dessert.

That being said I am currently conducting “research” on a best chocolate chip cookie in Midtown piece. Anybody got a recommendation? Post it as a comment below.

And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, or you’d like to nominate somebody in your office, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Today it’s Matthew, a Strategic Sourcing Manager who assured me he was a Giants fan- which was a pre-requisite for today’s profile.  My little way of thanking the big blue for preserving the legacy of my precious 1972 Dolphins.  I also hate the Patriots (10 years in Boston as a Dolphins fan will do that to you).  Nothing about his profile says Giants fan, and he couldn’t get me a photo of himself wearing any Giants stuff in time… but I’m going to take his word for it.

 Name: Matthew

Age: 42

Occupation: Strategic Sourcing Manager

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 34th St. & 8th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: Italian followed closely by BBQ

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Indian. Love spicy food, but can’t handle the spices in Indian food.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Chicken Parmigiana hero at Manganaro’s Hero Boy on 9th Ave and 38th.  (I can tell this is going to spark comments already.  Are you sure it’s Hero Boy you love?  Or, do you like Manganaro’s old school deli next store.  Two different places.  Long and historical rivalry.  -zach)

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: The cafeteria in our building, which isn’t bad for a corporate cafeteria. They have great chicken wings!!

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Ressie Mae’s may she rest in peace! Chicken and waffles should be outlawed, but the combination is something not to be missed.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  San Francisco.  Great weather, beautiful walking city and it has the 2 criteria I require to consider living anywhere: great Italian and great Chinese food. Plus you can go down to the Wharf and get Dungeness crabs from a cart, sit with your feet over the side of the wharf and throw the shells in the Bay with that view!

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where can a guy get a good rack of BBQ Ribs in Midtown without a long sitdown lunch? I’ve eaten in the South for lunch and it seems like these places are everywhere, but, alas, I haven’t found great ribs I love since Wylie’s closed on 50th and 1st a few years ago. Help a guy out ML readers!!

Chicken wings.  Fried chicken and waffles.  Ribs.  I wish I had been at your Superbowl party.  I’ve only had ribs at one place that could sort of qualify as Midtown… and I can’t imagine anybody elses being better.

BBQ porn, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Today it’s Swan, a Market Planning Manager (I have no idea what that means), and proprietor of “Lifestyle of a Yuppie“.  She spends her lunchtime pushing over old ladies for free samples at the Delta 360 Lounge,  but dreams of one day lunch’ing in Japan…

Name: Swan

Age: 27

Occupation: Market Planning Manager (and blogger)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Midtown West

Favorite Kind of Food:Free food! Just kidding. =) Italian and Japanese dishes, even better when there’s a mix of the two… a la Basta Pasta.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Fast food chains. Americanized Chinese food. Anything that I can make.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Salads and fatty tuna over rice from Chiyoda(41st btw. Mad+5th), Pizza Bianca from Sullivan Street Bakery (47th btw. 10+11th or at Dean & Deluca), Sapporo’sShio Ramen (49th btw. 6+7th), Tacos from Pampano Taqueria (3rd btw. 49+50th), Dim Sum and/or Wonton Noodles from Fuji Bakery (the food is mediocre but it’s cheap, authentic Chinese food without going downtown) on 35th btw. 7+8th. My new favorites are the spicy chicken and chorizo empanadas from Empanada Mama (on 9th Ave. btw. 51+52nd).

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Whole Foods (Columbus Circle), Norimaki (35th btw. 7+8th), Osaka (8th Ave. btw. 36+37th), the salad bar in Penn Station. There’s not much going on in the industrial wasteland that is Midtown West.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: The Tamale Lady in front of the Mexican Embassy. Thanks a million!!!! I force co-workers and friends to walk 5 blocks cross town with me, in the freezing cold no less, for my weekly tamale craving.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Tokyo. It’s a metropolis that obviously has Japanese food. I noticed Italian food was quite popular there when I visited a few years ago. Not that it matters much but Michelin named Tokyo as the World’s Culinary Capital. Given the high cost of living there, the bulk of my salary would probably be allocated towards lunch money.

I’m sorry.  Did I hear you right?  Under “Foods I Don’t Like” did you dare to put Chinese food?  Sure, you clarified that it’s “Americanized Chinese Food” that you don’t like- but in my mind no kind of Chinese food should ever be discriminated against.  Sure, I prefer “authentic” Chinese food (I probably ate Dim Sum every weekend for all of 2000-2001 when I lived in Boston), but there should be a special place in everyone’s heart for General Tso’s Chicken, Beef & Broccoli and fortune cookies (not to mention Panda Express).

The greatest book ever written on the subject, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Today it’s Dave Cook, the proprietor of Eating in Translation, who has amassed what is probably the largest collection of cheap eats food porn, from all 5 boroughs, in existence.  It also happens to be one of my favorite food blogs (naturally). 

Name: Dave Cook

Age: 48

Occupation: Food writer/photojournalist (www.eatingintranslation.com)

Where in Midtown do you Work?:I’m a recent emigrant from West 57th St., near Sixth Ave. But these days, when I’m not out and about (which is most of the time), I work from my apartment in Morningside Heights.

Favorite Kind of Food: All those amazing hand-crafted choices in Singapore’s food courts, or maybe red-sauce Italian

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Corporate-seminar rubber chicken

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Housemade ham lard (preferably spread on something crusty) from Koglin Royal Hams in the Grand Central Market. Ramen in “sesame paste hot soup” from Sapporo(on 49th btw. 6+7th). The Mercedes (aka bratwurst on a bun, with all the fixin’s) from the Hallo Berlin Juicy Food Stand (on 54th St. & 5th).  Kam ja tang (pork bone soup) with a tableful of panchan at Kunjip (32nd btw. 5+6th). Octopus salad, and maybe a tamarindo, from Margon (46th btw. 6+7th).  Lo mein with meat sauce “Peking style” from Bo’s Bar-B-Q and Noodle Shop (8th Ave. & 55th).

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  Mangia, the upscale, fully tricked-out salad bar and cafe with very charming takeout shopping bags, on West 57th.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: The tamale lady in front of the Mexican embassy, on 39th near Park Ave.  (Do any other Midtown embassies draw that kind of crowd?)

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Newww…York is where I’d rather stay; since I work on my own schedule, that and an unlimited MetroCard puts me in reach of more fascinating food than I can possibly eat. For that matter, since I’m more of a grazer than a three-meals-a-day kind of guy, in a way I’m on permanent lunchtime.

Anything else you’d like to ask, or share with, the Midtown Lunch readers? Have you ever considered that Zlata Praha (28-48 31st St., in Astoria), which has a huge, $6.95 Tuesday-through-Friday lunch special, is just a 15-minute ride from Midtown on the N or W?

Funny you should mention that. On Friday I took the Subway down to 34th St. for some rotisserie chicken that I’ll be posting about soon- and while on the F train, pondered how easy and quick it would be to go one extra stop and hit up the Shake Shack.  Now that they’re accepting phone orders, I think it could easily be done in under an hour.  

My one go-to Subway lunch, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown.  Being that Broadway pretty much occupies much of the Western boundaries of Midtown, it’s surprising that it has taken this long to get someone who works at a theater.  Meet Justin, a theatre manager who claims to live right on the edge of excess… 

Name: Justin

Age: 31

Occupation: Theatre Manager

Where in Midtown do you Work?:Jujamcyn Theaters – 44th b/w 7th & 8th

Favorite Kind of Food:Food at the margin of excess. The best local cooking plays with the limits of what is reasonably tasty and even edible: deep-fried, fat-laden, sugar-filled excess. Good pizza, good fried chicken, “Thai-style” spicy yums, good sugary baked goods are New York cuisine at its best.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Too much of a good thing. At the margins of excess, it is really easy to go too far and screw things up. Greasy pizza, flaccid, sketchy shawarma, Japanese curry that kicks around your system for a few days: these are few of my least favorite things. There’s only so much glaze a donut can take.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: (West side, represent! These places may be “out-of-range” by Midtown Lunch standards, but the first two offer delivery)
– Wondee Siam I (9th & 52nd) – Yum Kor Moo Yang (BBQ Pork Yum)
– Island Burger (9th & 51st)- Capo San Lucas Salad (with the chicken)
– 99 Cent Fresh Pizza aka “dollar pizza” (9th & 40th) – Slice of pizza

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Green Symphony (43rd b/w 7th & 8th) – “Healthy” buffet-style joint with soups, sandwiches and a design-your-own-salad station. This place is definitely a step above the buffet places I got used to downtown, but it’s inconsistent and pricey. We go here 2x+ a week.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Five Guys NYC. I had no idea.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I like John Burdett’s descriptions of the street food culture on Soi Cowboy in Bangkok.

I’ve never read any of John Burdett’s books (Bangkok 8, Bangkok Haunts), and I’m pretty sure Soi Cowboy is known more for its prostitution (and gross tourists) than its good eats- but I too am a fan of the street food of Thailand.  In fact hearing the word soi can only remind me of Kaow Soi, a Chiang Mai curry noodle soup, with no relation to the street in Bangkok (soi just means ‘side street’), one of the best things I had while visiting Thailand a year ago.  A photo after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Rosie, an IT Director for a non-profit, looking for a place to relax in Herald Square.

Name: Rosie

Age: 31

Occupation: Nonprofit IT Director

Where in Midtown do you Work?:Herald Square

Favorite Kind of Food: Japanese, French, Southern Food/Comfort Food. Sometimes it’s a combination of those (Japanese comfort food for example). I think I’m partial to Japanese in particular because of the great food discoveries I’ve enjoyed while exploring that cuisine. Doing so kind of opened the door to a lot of heightened flavors and textures that I don’t think I’d been aware of before and it translated right back into other cuisines once I started paying attention. As for the French and Southern/Comfort, I grew up with those at home and so they’re kind of second nature to love.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Uninspired food. I’m drawing a blank thinking of a particular cuisine I actively dislike. I do, however, harbor a strong bias against boring food. If I can tell that it’s been treated like an afterthought or the cook/chef could care less then I’ve really got a problem with that. By contrast, you usually can tell you’ve hit on something good when the people take pride in the food they’re offering.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Chiyoda Sushi on 41st btw. 5th+Madison (been enjoying their negitoro-don lately) and Woo Ri Jip on 32nd btw. 5+6th (love the variety and I’m about to win something with my point card). On the rare occasion that I can make it that far I love dropping in to Oms/b as well. Artisanal is another favorite which is just a little too far away most days.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Mandoo Bar on 32nd between 5th and 6th is a mainstay. I often take new colleagues there. The menu is short and sweet, the prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is rather comfortable as well. It’s a simple introduction to K-Town for those who don’t know a lot about Korean food but are interested to find out. And now there’s Pinkberry across the street for dessert afterwards if you’re feeling indulgent.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: I only just discovered Midtown Lunch so I haven’t gotten a chance to test out any of the new places I’ve found yet but Sakae Sushi (on 43rd btw. Lex+3rd) is right up there on my list. I used to live in Japan and conveyor-belt sushi (aka kaiten-zushi) is near and dear to my heart. Sushi East on 3rd between 26th and 27th is just too far to be a viable lunchtime destination so I’m kind of excited about Sakae.  (I’m pretty excited too.  The word is, it’s opening this month but I’ll believe it when I see it.  -zach) 

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? San Francisco. I went there for work this summer and the Ferry Terminal Market was a lunchtime paradise. They don’t mess around there. Freshly shucked raw oysters, Vietnamese noodle dishes to go, roast duck sandwiches, crab po boys… it was terrific. I also got the sense that the purveyors themselves were real food people. They appreciated customers who they could tell were passionate about food too.

Anything you’d like to ask the midtown lunch readers???:  Anyone know of any hidden gem cafes in the 30s or low 40s, preferably within striking distance of Herald Square? The best one I’ve been able to find so far is Cafe Keko on Madison and 30th. Every once in a while I need to take a break in a quiet place, not necessarily for lunch, but pretty much every cafe near where I work is noisy, has uncomfortable seating or is called Starbucks.

Aside from Koreatown, which you seem pretty well versed in, I’m not much of a Herald Square expert.  I’ll turn this one over to the Midtown Lunch faithful.  Got a suggestion for Rosie?  Leave a comment below. 

And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, or you’d like to nominate somebody in your office, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Lindsay, a legal assistant, who has terrible cholesterol, but takes pictures of himself eating bacon.  Ahhh, the perfect Midtown Lunch’er.

Name: Lindsay

Age: 25

Occupation: Legal Assistant

Where in Midtown do you Work?:50th & 8th

Favorite Kind of Food: I suppose Japanese or crazy fusion foods with unusual flavors (for a mind blowing and unusual set of bodega sandwiches, for example, try Sunny & Annie’s on Ave B and 5th), but I’ll eat pretty much anything. I recently found out that my mother blessed me with terrible cholesterol and high blood pressure and that I should avoid foods that exacerbate those things. After some agonizing, I realized that those foods now taste better because it’s a transgressive act. For example, last night I had a burger at BRGR, and it was pretty darn delicious because of the guilt alone. Thanks, Mom.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: South African — honestly most of the meat there tastes like paper (as does the beef at Better Burger). I’m not too huge on English food either, but I think that’s sort of its perverse selling point. Also any menu written in papyrus font immediately turns me off to its food.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The burekas, or the fava beans with hummus at Gazala’s Place (9th Ave. btw. 48+49th); most anything at Pam Real Thai (their Thai iced teas/coffees are also very reasonably priced) (49th & 9th); I’ve got an irrational soft spot for Island Burger (but eat in, don’t order: the burgers soak through the buns otherwise)(9th Ave. btw. 51+52nd). Also it’s hard to beat a lot of the street meat carts in the 49th/6th area; that stuff is just absurdly tasty. And I adore Bouchon’s ‘wiches, particularly the roast beef (Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle).

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Our own cafeteria, sadly; it’s subsidized heavily so it’s easy to be lazy and stay in. I also eat at Chipotle far too often for all the obvious reasons (sorry ML).  (Dude… if I were you, I’d be at Piece of Chicken (45th btw. 8+9th) every single day!  The day I took the photos for the place, I think I was sitting in the courtyard outside your building.  -zach)

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Kati Roll and the Daisy May’s BBQ cart; Margon; pretty much any Mexican restaurant I’ve ever eaten at.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I don’t know any place that matches Manhattan for its convenience and variety, so I’m going to have to say right here. More specifically the Lower East Side, although areas of Brooklyn and Queens have pretty strong arguments going for them, too.

Anything you’d like to ask the midtown lunch readers???: I’m still looking for a great Malaysian place…

A great Malaysian place in Midtown, or in general?  Because in Midtown, you are pretty out of luck.  Did a search for Malaysian on Menupages and nothing comes up anywhere in Midtown.  It looks like the closest you are going to get is Penang on 72nd btw. Columbus+Amsterdam.  They have an $8 lunch special, and they do deliver- down to 53rd St. (westside only).  So close, yet so far.  

Penang’s very popular Mango Chicken, after the jump…  Read more »